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Indian Runner for Australian 6-Day Race

Ultra-marathoning is a very lonely sport. It is estimated in the western world that approximately one percent of the population ever run a marathon (42.195km), so the comparitive percentage for those that ever run an ultra is even less!

Spare a thought for thirty three year old, Arun Kumar Bhardwaij from India then. In a country of over one billion people, he is the only known ultra runner in the whole country and has to go overseas to compete. In the last two years , he has completed two Solo Runs in his own country which have included a 270km run in just over 33 hours. Arun also competed in the IAU 24 hour championship at Taiwan this year, overcame food poisoning and completed 138.172km. This was his first ultramarathon race and his first time out of India. Arun has had to seek guidance(via e-mail) from ultra marathon people around the Globe in the past two years in an effort to guide his career.

Arun is now heading for Australia and will be competing in the Australian 6-Day Championship from 17th to 23rd November 02 at Colac, Victoria. The race will be held once again at the lovely Memorial Square and updates can be obtained here during the Event. Members of the public are cordially invited to come down to Colac during the Six -days of the race and lend their support to Arun and the 29 other competitors.

Arun is aiming to complete 700 plus kilometres during the Event, which will put him in line for a Top Ten Finish at his first attempt.

Arun draws his inspiration from some of the Greats of Athletics, including Zola Budd and Yiannis Kouros, having named two of his children, Zola and Yiannis. Arun is hoping to increase the profile of ultra running in India and is hoping that one day there will be competitive Ultra races held in his Home country.

Arun' profile is listed below:

Name: Arun Kumar Bhardwaj

Address: B-14, Rampark Colony, Loni, Ghaziabad

E-mail: a_runrunrun@yahoo.com

Education: Commerce Graduate from Delhi University

Occupation: UDC in Planning Commission, Govt. of India

Height: 5 feet 8.2 in

Weight: 66 kg

Birthplace: Village Baoli, District Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh

Date of birth: February 24th , 1969

Family: Wife Sangeeta , TGT (Eng.) in Kendriya Vidyalaya presently posted at Rewari, Children : Zola (23.9.1998), Sofia (12.1.2001) , Yiannis (12.7.2002).

Years running: 12 years

Running ultras: 2 years

Personal Bests: 3 km in 10 minutes , 5 km in 14.30 minutes, 185 km in 23.25 hours (Haridwar to Pura Mahadev, Baghpat in 2000), 270 km in 33.10 hr on 7-8 Nov. 2001(Delhi to Jaipur, sponsored by Planning Commission), Placed 9th in IAU Asia 24 hr Championships in Taiwan in individual category completing 138.172 km on 2-3 March 2002 (first ever Indian participated in Ultramarathon competition).

Typical training: It varies but normally 160 km/week.

Injury history: Have undergone four major surgeries of Parotid Tumor at the age of 14-17.

Favorite ultra foods: Honey, any fruit juice, banana and sugar cane juice.

Things I like most about ultras: Traveling, getting to make new friends, being in contact with nature.

Things I hate most about ultras: Leaving my daughter waiting for me.

What got me started doing ultras: To produce myself as an ideal for my daughter ZOLA.

Why I do ultras: Enjoy to push myself to my limits

Ultra goal: To run 250+ in 24 hours before the age of 35. And 750 km in Six Days.

Favorite ultra quote(s): “Never, never, never quit.”& "No matter how bad you feel never stop smiling and remember that pain is temporary and pride is for ever"

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